Human Trafficking Articles

The NATSO Foundation is inviting NATSO members to join the Office of the Louisiana Attorney General, the Louisiana Trucking Association and Truckers Against Trafficking March 20 for a regional meeting in Baton Rouge on combating human trafficking.

President Donald Trump renewed his call for a major infrastructure investment during his State of the Union address on Jan. 5, but offered no details on his plans as he urged Republicans and Democrats to work together to pass legislation to rebuild and revitalize the nation’s crumbling infrastructure.

The NATSO Foundation is inviting NATSO members to join the Minnesota Human Trafficking Investigations Task Force, the Minnesota Trucking Association and Truckers Against Trafficking April 17 for a regional meeting in St. Paul, Minn., aimed at coordinating ways to fight human trafficking within the state. This private event is scheduled to be held April 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in St. Paul.

A draft document leaked to press on Jan. 22 and widely speculated to be the funding principles for the Trump Administration’s long-awaited infrastructure plan called for liberalizing tolling policy and allowing states to commercialize interstate rest areas among its proposals for funding infrastructure, both of which would dramatically undercut businesses that operate at the Interstate exits.

NATSO Foundation President Lisa Mullings today told members of the House Committee on Homeland Security that the truckstop and travel plaza industry plays a vital role in combating human trafficking that takes place along the nation’s Interstate Highway System. NATSO was invited to participate as an example of the positive role that the private sector can play in the fight against human trafficking.

January marks National Human Trafficking Awareness month.
As we reflect on goals for the year or renew commitments to existing resolutions, NATSO members are encouraged to keep in mind the critical role that they can play in helping to stop human trafficking along the nation’s Interstate Highways.

The NATSO Foundation, along with Truckers Against Trafficking, the Texas Attorney General, Texas Trucking Association and ConocoPhillips, will co-host a regional coalition meeting aimed at coordinating ways to fight human trafficking within the state on Nov. 29.

North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp will join the NATSO Foundation, Truckers Against Trafficking, the North Dakota Motor Carriers Association and ConocoPhillips Aug. 14 as they host a coalition meeting in Bismarck, N.D., aimed at coordinating ways to fight human trafficking within the state.

After the U.S. House of Representatives passed three pieces of legislation aimed at strengthening the nation’s anti-human trafficking laws, House Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) thanked groups within her home state of Washington working to combat human trafficking, including Dan Alsaker and Broadway Truck Stop.

The NATSO Foundation joined the Wyoming Attorney General, the Wyoming Trucking Association and Truckers Against Trafficking June 27 in hosting a coalition meeting in Casper, Wyo., aimed at coordinating ways to fight human trafficking within the state.

TravelCenters of America and NATSO hosted Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) at TA’s Foristell, Mo., location April 19 as part of a congressional site visit designed to discuss issues of importance to the truckstop and travel plaza community.

The NATSO Foundation will join the Texas Attorney General, the Texas Trucking Association and Truckers Against Trafficking Feb. 23 in hosting a coalition meeting in El Paso, Texas, aimed at coordinating ways to fight human trafficking within the state.

NATSO and the trucking industry are among several groups within transportation, including Amtrak and the airlines, working to put an end to human trafficking—which victimizes between 100,000 and 300,000 people each year. Human Trafficking survivor Shamere McKenzie will share her story at The NATSO Show.

Tracy Mullins, the general manager of the Petro Stopping Center in Spokane, Wash., has won the first annual Harriet Tubman award by Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) after she helped to prevent the possible human trafficking of two minors.